Ugo Monye’s money is on Londoners claiming the Aviva Premiership title

Ugo Monye believes the Aviva Premiership trophy will end up in London hands this season. Harlequins and Saracens meet in the Premiership play-off on Saturday, the day after the first semi-final between Northampton and defending champions Leicester.

Quins wing Monye is adamant the attacking momentum is with London’s top two teams and that whoever prevails in their semi will triumph in the Twickenham final on May 31.

Monye helped Quins defeat Bath 19-16 to grab the fourth play-off spot and a clash away to Sarries on their artificial pitch at Allianz Park, which promotes a fast, open game.

“Whoever wins this match will win the whole thing — I am certain of that,’’ said Monye. “We have been playing knockout rugby for six weeks and still have plenty left in the tank. This is what we love doing and I was always convinced we would beat Bath. That’s the confidence we have in this squad.”

Monye came off during the second half of Saturday’s match with a shoulder injury but said: “It’s something I have had for the last two matches and I will be fine for the Saracens game.”

A Mike Brown try and four penalties and a conversion from Nick Evans won the match. Fly-half Evans limped off late in the game but director of rugby Conor O’Shea expects the player to be ready to train later this week.

O’Shea insists his men have learned from their 39-17 loss to Sarries at Wembley in March, a game which saw Quins rest captain Chris Robshaw, Brown and Danny Care. All three will have key roles at Allianz Park.

O’Shea said: “We weren’t far off at that Wembley game and when you look at the players who didn’t play, then there won’t be that much between the teams on Saturday. You might laugh at that given the final result but I came away from Wembley confident we could do something if we played them again.”

Sarries, who finished the regular season top on 87 points, sent a weakened team to Leicester but only lost 31-27. They had Justin Melck, their Germany flanker, sent off for an alleged gouge but both clubs insisted there was no offence and the card looks certain to be quashed on appeal.

“We are hugely disappointed with the decision,” said Mark McCall, the Sarries director of rugby.” We will look to have it overturned. Justin is not that kind of player. It was a dreadful decision.”

Wasps came unstuck 74-13 at Northampton as they rested key players ahead of next Sunday’s first leg of their European Rugby Champions Cup play-off against Stade Francais. “We’re all pretty embarrassed by that performance,” said Dai Young, the director of rugby. “There is no shame coming to Franklin’s Gardens and losing to a good side but to lose by that score is unacceptable.”